AN Residence sits on a peculiar lot – sort of a secluded, concave plateau. Emerging as a monolithic architectural statement, the building is subtly embedded into the landscape, a monomaterial abstract volume, homage to Hollyhock House by Frank Lloyd Wright. The residence plays with contrasts – introspective upon approach yet expansive once within, revealing a strong colonnade framing views of the canyon beyond on the rear side.

The concept for the house is driven by the format of pure stone covering the structural walls and its application across several stacked and offset geometries, which aims to draw the garden into the interior, giving the project a sculptural quality. Rooted in the mid-century and Case Study House tradition of Los Angeles, AN Residence draws inspiration from the sharp, modernist lines of Richard Neutra’s Hollywood projects and the seamless indoor-outdoor flow of the Kaufmann Desert House in Palm Springs. Along the lines of such modernists, the restrained material palette—natural stone anchoring the structure and warm wood accentuating key interior spaces—establishes a dialogue between architecture and landscape. Expansive openings and wooden doors/panels dissolve boundaries, allowing the house to breathe with its surroundings, while the colonnade provide both shade and sculptural depth. This careful integration creates a home that feels both grounded and fluid, embracing its environment with timeless elegance.

At the heart of the home, a central core with a fireplace anchors two distinct wings. One houses the kitchen, opening onto a terrace and swimming pool, while the other extends toward private living areas. A defining olive tree courtyard integrates nature into the architectural dialogue, reinforcing the seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces. The position of the trees on the southwest side of the property dictates the central siting of the main volume befitting the interconnected lifestyle of the clients and their desire for a spacious open living area with a direct connection to the surrounding greenery. The building envelope sits within the construction lines of the neighboring buildings on either side, maintaining the shortest possible distance. A lower level, discreetly integrated into the topography, accommodates a garage, wine cellar, gym, spa, and an atelier that opens onto a secluded garden with fire pits.

The result is a residence of quiet monumentality—graphically bold yet sensorially rich—where purity of form and material converge in a timeless expression of contemporary living in dialogue within the verdant Californian landscape.

Photos by Stephen K. Johnson